Egyptian PM 'scored zero' in first test as head of state


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CAIRO // Egypt's prime minister, Ahmed Nazif, is facing growing criticism over his perceived absence from the country's public life as he fills in for President Hosni Mubarak, who is in Germany recovering from surgery. Mr Nazif's low profile has led many to ask who actually makes the decisions in Egypt apart from the president, amid speculation as to the future of the presidency ahead of elections next year.

The prime minister was blasted in the press for not saying more upon the death of the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, on March 10. As per tradition, the head of state was expected to have declared three days of mourning, but Mr Nazif did not. "In the first week of his presidency, Nazif has scored zero in the test of the death of the Sheikh Al Azhar," the opposition daily Al Dostour said in an editorial.

Wael Qandil, a columnist at the independent daily Al Shorouk, said there was a general state of confusion in Egypt as to who is in charge. "The political scene these days looks like the Tower of Babel, with everyone talking about what concerns them and what doesn't," he wrote. A spokesman for Mr Nazif denied that there were any problems and rejected claims that the leadership was chaotic in the absence of Mr Mubarak, Egypt's leader since 1981.

"It's business as usual in the country, things are going smoothly, no problems and no presidential decisions or decrees have had to be made so far," said Magdy Rady. "The prime minister's schedule hasn't changed." Mr Rady said the date of the president's return would be announced in the near future. Mr Nazif is expected to represent Egypt in the Arab League summit in Libya at the end of the month.

The technocrat with a liberal economic agenda was appointed to office by Mr Mubarak in 2004. The president, unlike his two predecessors, did not appoint a vice president and announced the delegation of his powers to Mr Nazif on the eve of his operation. According to a constitutional amendment in 2007, the powers of the president are transferred to the prime minister in his absence, with the exception of the powers to dissolve the government and the two chambers of parliament.

Mr Mubarak, 81, had his gallbladder removed in Germany on March 6 where he fell ill on a state visit. He has since been recovering at the University of Heidelberg hospital, where the surgery was performed. After rife speculation in the media over the president's health and recovery, Egyptians got a silent glimpse of their leader, along with his two doctors, in footage broadcast on Egyptian TV on Tuesday.

It is not clear when Mr Mubarak, who is accompanied by his wife Suzanne and their two sons, will return to Egypt. "The footage shown of President Mubarak came as part of our policy of transparency in dealing with the [health] issue," Abdel Latif el Manawy, head of news at the state-owned Egyptian TV said yesterday. A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the president would return "sooner than people think".

But the media voiced doubts. "Why was the president shown with his doctors only? Why was there was no sound? Will there be a TV interview aired soon? Why has no date been set for his return?" read the headline of the opposition daily Al Dostour yesterday. Meanwhile, speculation has continued over the future of the presidency. The return of Mohammed ElBaradei, the former head of the UN's nuclear monitoring agency, has given hope to many among Egypt's opposition that there may be a serious contender in the presidential elections next year.

Mr ElBaradei, 67, who received a hero's welcome when he arrived in Cairo airport from Vienna last month and who has already formed the National Front for Change, a coalition of opposition groups, said he would be interested in running for president, as an independent candidate. According to the constitution, however, that is forbidden leading to opposition calls for it to be amended. Safwat el Sherif, secretary general of Mr Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party, recently ruled this out.

Mr Mubarak has not said if he intends to run next year. Many believe the president intends to pass power down to his son, Gamal, 46. But amid an increasingly loud opposition, emboldened by a freer press and Mr ElBaradei's return, such a move may prove risky. Mahmoud Saad, Egypt's most renowned TV anchor, speaking on the prime-time talk show Egypt Today, called on the president to amend the constitution to allow more candidates to run and to limit terms to four years with one person only allowed to serve two terms.

"This is just, right and fair," he said. @Email:nmagd@thenational.ae

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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh359,000

On sale: now 

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If you go

The Flights

Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.

The trip

Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.

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*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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Based: Riyadh

Sector: Software

Employees: 150

Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing

Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.

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Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021

Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.

Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.

Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.

Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.

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Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI. 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh289,000

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

UAE squad

Men's draw: Victor Scvortov and Khalifa Al Hosani, (both 73 kilograms), Sergiu Toma and Mihail Marchitan (90kg), Ivan Remarenco (100kg), Ahmed Al Naqbi (60kg), Musabah Al Shamsi and Ahmed Al Hosani (66kg)

Women’s draw: Maitha Al Neyadi (57kg)